END OF THE PREP: NYCFC blanks Nashville in preseason finale

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — New York City FC finished up its preseason schedule with a 2-0 victory over Nashville SC Friday night.

Nashville SC will play in the United Soccer League this season, but will make its Major League Soccer debut as an expansion team in 2020.

Maxi Moralez boosted City into the lead on a 27th-minute penalty kick past goalkeeper Matt Pickens for a one-goal lead.

Alexandru Mitriţă tallied his second goal of the preseason — he found the net vs. AIK in Abu Dhabi earlier this month — in the 40th minute. He slalomed in from the left side as the Romanian international went it alone, powering through a defender’s challenge before firing a curling strike into the corner of the net.

About The Author

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered eight World Cups, seven Olympics and all 21 MLS Cups. He writes about New York City FC, New York Cosmos and the U.S. national team for Newsday and pens a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has two more in the works, including one about the Rochester Lancers.